Insulating and wrapping machine



April 26, 1932. w. w. BARDSLEY INSULATING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l w. w. BARDSLEY I INSULATING AND WRAPPING MACHINE April 26, 1932.

4 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 6. 1929 A ril 26, 1932.. w. BARDS'LEY 1,855,900

INSbLATING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1 929 4 She'ets-Sheet I5 April 1932- w. w. BARDSLEY' 1,855,900

INSULATING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLARD W. BAIRDSLEY, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO WARDWELL BRAIDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORA- 'IION OF MAINE INSULATING AND WRAPPING MACHINE Application filed February 6, 1929. Serial No. 338,009.

This invention relates to machines or apparatus for covering wire and other electrical conductors with insulating material, and particularly to a device for wrapping tape or the like about the wire orconductor. The improved taping device may be employed to wrap the tape on the wire or conductor as it is fed from a source of supply, or it may be combined with braiding mechanism so that the wire can be taped and covered with the braid at one operation.

One object of the invention is to provide a wrapping device which is capable of high speed operation to effect economies in the cost of insulating the wire or other conductor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapping device which will lay the tape or other material smoothly and uniformly on the wire without buckling, kinking or wrinkling, whereby to improve the quality of the product. Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapping device which is adapted for use with tape of diiferent widths and automatically adjiistable to vary the pitch or angle of lay of the tape in accordance with the requirements thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapping device having means for ap- 30 plying tension to the tape as it is laid on the wire, which means is self-adjusting to maintain the tension substantially uniform as the taperoll is reduced in diameter during the unwinding of the tape therefrom. 35 Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapping device which may be applied to or inbuilt with a high speed braiding machine to operate in conjunction with the braiding mechanism to secure rapid production of the wrapped and braid-covered wire.

Another object of the invention is-to provide automatic stopping-mechanism for arresting the wrapping and braiding operations upon breakage of the tape or exhaustion of its supply.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified which is simple in construction, proof against derangement or getting out of order, and efficient in use for the purposes described.

combined with a rapid braider. This preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a high speed braiding machine showing the present improved taping or wrapping device combined therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side View of the wrapping device shown with certain of its parts in section on the vertical axis of the machine;

-Fg. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the wrapping device;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the speed-changing gearing of the device;

Fig. 5 is an axial sectional view of the tape-rollcarrier and the tension mechanism therefor;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the stopping-mechanism of the device which co-operates with the driving-means for the braiding machine; and

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of a portion of the trip-device for the stopping-mechanism.

As before noted, the present drawings illustrate the taping or wrapping device as applied to use with the braiding mechanism of a high speed braider, but it is to be understood that the apparatus is adapted for other applications or to be used alone. In Fig. l of the drawings the braiding machine 2 is shown as mounted on a frame or standard comprising opposite parallel legs 8 with cross-girts 4 extending therebetween. The braiding mechanism is carried on a base 5 having feet 6 supported on the girts 4, the base being provided with suitable bearings for two oppositely rotating heads or turrets 7 and 8.

The braiding mechanism may be of any suitable type and is herein shown more or less schematically as embodying two sets of oppositely rotating carriers for supporting and revolving the upper and lower tiers of yarn bobbins or cops b and 0. The upper set of bobbins bare carried on shuttle-like carriers 10 which travel on a circular track 11 supported from the lower turret 8; while the lower bobbins c are carried on brackets 12 supported on and revolved with the turret 8. The upper carriers or shuttles 10 are travelled around the track 11 of the turret 8 through suitable driving connection with the turret 7, and the yarns 7 from the lower bobbins c are manipulated to pass them al- 3 ternately over and under the bobbins I) of the upper set through the means of suitable switches or deflectors, not herein shown or described. The driving connections for travelling the shuttles 10 on the track 11, and the deflectors for shifting the yarns to cause them to interlace in the braid may be of the construction and arrangement shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,602,442 dated October 12, 1926, as employed on a well-known type of rapid braider.

The braiding machine 2 is operated from a drive-shaft 13 housed in a tubular bearing 14 projecting from the side of the base 5, see Figs. 1 and 6. The drive-shaft 13 may be directly connected to a motor or belted to a countershaft 15 driven from any suitable source ofpower. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, the driveshaft 13 carries a sprocket 16 which is connected by a chain 17 to a sprocket 18 on the countershaft 15. The countershaft 15 is provided with a suitable belt-pulley 19 which may be belted to a line shaft. electric motor or other source of power. As shown in Fig. 6, the belt-pulley 19 is free to rotate on the countershaft 15 and adapted to be connected to drive the latter through the means of a friction clutch 20.

The clutch 20 may be of the cone type adapted to be shifted into and out of engagement with the pulley 19 by means of a lever 25. The clutch-lever is pivoted at 26 on a bracket 27 secured to the side of the leg 3 of the frame. The lever 25 is connected to a pivoted shipper-fork 28, see Fig. 1. which straddles the hub 30 of the clutch 20 and carries pins 29 engaging a peripheral groove therein as shown in Fig. 6. This mechanism is in accordance with the usual arrangement and is therefore not herein shown or described in complete detail.

The forward end of the clutch-lever 25 is connected to a starting-lever 32 by means of a link 31. The starting-lever 32 is fulcrumed at 33, see Fig. 1, and at its rearward end it carries a pivoted detent-latch 34 having a shoulder 35 adapted to engage with a shoul dered locking-pin 36 fixedly held in the hearing 14. A spring 37 tends to hold the detentlatch 34 locked to the pin 36, while a second stronger spring 38 acts to swing the startinglever 32 when its latch is released from the pin. When the starting-lever 32 is thrown into the position illustrated in Fig. 6 its latch 34 is locked to the pin 36 and the clutch 20 is engaged with the belt-pulley 19 to maintain the machine operative from the power derived from the countershaft 15. The detent-latch 34 may be rocked against the action of its spring 37 to release it from the pin 36, whereupon the starting-lever 32 is moved by its spring 38 to operate the clutch-lever 25 to slide the clutch 20 disengage it from the driving pulley 19. The release of the detent-latch 34 may be effected through the operation of automatic stopping-mechanism controlled by the breaking of the yarn on the exhaustion of the supply thereof on the bobbins Z) and c, this mechanism being of well-known arrangement as employed on braiding machines of the present type. In accordance with the present invention the braiding operation is also arrested upon the failure of the supply of tape being wrapped on the wire, this latter control being effected through instrumentalities to be later described.

The present improved taping or wrapping device comprises, in general, a tape-roll carrier carried on a flier to be revolved about the wire or other conductor feeding to the braiding mechanism. As shown in Fig. 1, the wire or conductor w is arranged to feed to the braiding mechanism from below, passing upwardly through the center of the machine and emerging at the top of the inner turret 7 where the strands of yarn y converge to intermesh in the braid. The wire 10 may be delivered from a spool or reel arranged at the back of the machine, or it may feed up through the floor on which the braider stands.

The taping device is preferably arranged at a point some distance below the braiding mechanism and, as herein shown, it is carried on a base-plate supported from the legs 3 of the machine frame. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the base-plate 45 is of substantially H-shape in plan view, with the ends of its opposite arms bolted to angle-shaped brackets 47 which, in turn, are bolted to the webs of the legs 3. Rising from the center of the base-plate 45 is a hollow column 49 constituting a bearing for the rotating head of the flier 50 which carries the tape-roll T, see Fig. 2.

The flier head comprises a sleeve 51 rotatably journalled on a reduced portion 52 of the column 49 with its lower end resting on a thrust-washer 53 held against a shoulder 54 on the column. The sleeve 51 is provided with a bevel gear 55 which meshes with a bevel pinion 56 on a stud-shaft 57. The stud-shaft 57 is journalled in a bearing 58 formed as a part of a bracket 59 which is fastened to the base-plate 45 by means of bolts 60. The bearing 58 is formed with an upstanding lug 61, in which is held a stud 62 secured in place by a set-screw 63. The stud 62 carries a tapered roller 65 which bears against the finished upper face of the bevel gear 55 to brace the latter against the thrust of the pinion 56. A flange 67 on the roller 65 abuts the periphery of the gear to hold the roller in place on its stud 62.

The pinion-shaft 57 extends through a second bearing 68 on the bracket 59 and carries a spur-gear 70 at its outer end. Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the spur ear 70 meshes with an idler pinion 71 W ich, in

turn, meshes with a gear 72 on a horizontal shaft 73. The horizontal shaft 73 is journalled in a bearing 74 on the bracket 59; while the pinion 71 is rotatable on a stud 75 which projects through a slot 76 in an arm 77, the stud being clamped in place by a thumb-nut 78. The arm 77 is swiveled on the shaft 57 and is provided with a depending portion 79 formed with an arcuate slot 80. A stud 81 held in a boss 82 on the bracket 59, see Fig. 3, projects through the slot 80 and carries a thumb-nut 83 at its end for clamping the arm 77 in fixed position. Through this arrangement provision is made for substituting gears of different diameter for the pinion 71, whereby to change the speed ratio between'the shafts 57 and 73; the arm 77 being adapted for adjustment when the thumb-nut 83 is loosened to accommodate pinions of Various sizes. The change-gear mechanism is located at the front of the machine projecting forwardly from between the legs 3 so as to be convenient of access for adjusting the speed of revolution of the flier 50 in accordance with requirements for different types of work.

The shaft 73 connects the driving-means for the taping device with the main drive of the braiding machine. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the shaft 73 extends through a bearing 84 on a bracket 85 which is bolted to the rearward leg of the base-plate 45. At its rearward end the shaft 73 carries a bevel gear 86 adapted to mesh with one or the other of a pair of bevel gears 87 and 88 fast on a cross-shaft 89. The shaft 89 is slidably journalled in bearings 90 and 91 on the bracket 85 and carries a sprocket-wheel 92 connected by a chain 93 to a sprocket 94 on the countershaft 15, previously referred to as constituting the power shaft for the braiding mecha- IllSIIl.

The countershaft 15 has a chain-andsprocket connection through gearing designated generally at 96 for driving a flanged pulley 97. The flanged pulley 97 may be belted to the take-up mechanism which winds the insulated wireonto a take-up reel, but as this partof the mechanism is not related to the present invention it is not herein described or illustrated. A suitable capstan, not shown, is provided above the braiding mechanism for feeding the wire through the machine and delivering it to the wind-up.

The flier for revolving the spool or roll of tape around the wire is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 as comprising a yoke-like support 100 carried on the rotating sleeve 51.

The support 100 is formed with a split collar 101 surrounding the sleeve 51 and clamped in place thereon by means of a binder-screw 102. Projecting laterally from the collar 101 are two opposite yoke-arms 103 carrying pivotscrews 104 at their ends. The tape-roll carrier is constructed-in the form of a central circular plate or hub 105 having diametrically opposed radial arms 106 projecting therefrom. The arms 106 are provided with upstanding bearing-lugs 108, in which are suitable holes for recelving the reduced pivot pintles 109 of the screws 104, see Fig. 3. The tape-roll carrier is thus swiveled on a horizontal axis to adapt it to assume an inclined position with respect to the central vertical axis of the machine and the wire drawing therethrough.

Projecting at right-angles to the arms 106 of the carrier is a third lateral arm 110 having forked extensions 111 reaching out into position adjacent the axis of the flier-head.

The extensions 111 terminate in bosses in which are secured studs 112 for rotatably supporting a pairof guide-rollers 115. The r0 lers 115 are preferably formed with tapered peripheries and are counterbored at 116 to receive the heads of the studs 112 on which they rotate. The two rollers 115 are carried by the forked end of the arm 110 in position adjacent to and at either side of the axis of the flier-head to adapt the tape or other band material to draw thereover as it feeds to the wire w. Two rollers are provided so that the tape may be fed onto the wire from opposite directions to provide for either a rightor left-hand wrap.

The roll of tape T, indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings by dot-and-dash lines, is carried on a tapered and exteriorly ribbed mandrel or hollow spindle 120 which is rotatable on the hub 105 of the carrier. As shown in Fig. 5, the hub 105 is formed with atubular stem 122 projecting above its upper face to provide a bearing for the man-. drel 120. The mandrel 120 is formed at its lower end with a flange 121 which seats against the finished upper face of the hub 105, resilient means being provided for holding these parts in frictional contact to exert a slight resistance to therotation of the mandrel on the carrier whereby to apply tension to the strip of tape or other material I as it is drawn off from the roll T.

The friction means for controlling the rotation of the mandrel 120, and thereby 127 bears against a washer 128 abutting the end of the hub 126 and serves as a means for manually adjusting the tension-means of the flier in the manner as hereinafter explained.

The spindle 125 is held from turning in the bearlng 122 by means of a pin or stud 130 having{ a reduced end which engages a spline or eyway 131 extending longitudinally of the spindle. On the lower end of the spindle 125 is a hub or collar 132 fastened fixedly thereto by means of a crosspin 133. The hub 132 is formed with a helical cam-face 134 adapted to abut and ride against a similar cam-face 135 on a hub 136 which is rotatable on the spindle 125. The hub 136 has a sleeve-like extension 137 projecting into the bore of the central bearing 122, anda helical spring 138 surrounds the spindle 125 between the end of the sleeve and the end of the bore in the bearing.

The cam-hub 136 is provided with an arm 140 by means of which it may be rotated on the spindle 125 whereby the cam-faces 134 and 135 will act to slide the sleeve 137 axially of the spindle to adjust the tension of the spring 138. The arm 140 is connected to a spring 141, see Fig. 3, which tends to swing the arm to turn'the sleeve 137 in a counter-clockwise direction whereby to rotate the cam-hub 136 to efl'ect relief of the tension of the spring 141. The spring 141 is hooked to a pm 142 in the arm 140 and its opposite end is anchored to a pin 143 carried on the forked arm 110.

The arm 140 is held against the tension of the spring 141 through the means of a link 144 connectlng it with an arm or lever 145. As shown in Fig. 3, the lever 145 is pivoted on a pin 146 carried on the under side of one of the radial arms 106 of the carrier. The arm 145 is offset at its outer end and formed with a hub 147, see Fig. 2, through which is riveted a pin 148. Rotatable on the pin 148 is a wooden or fiber roller 149 which is adapted to bear against the periphery of the taperoll T. When the tape-roll is full and of maximum diameter the roller 149 bearing against its periphery will hold the arm 145 in the position indicated in Fig. 3 so that the connected arm 140 will be turned to cause the sleeve 137 to be entered into the bore of the bearin 122 to effect a maximum compression o the tension spring 138. As the tape is unwound from the roll T the arm 145 is permitted to swin inwardly to allow the arm 140 to be move by the spring 141 to turn the cam-hub 136 counter-clockwise to reduce the tension of the spring 138.

Inserted into the upper end of the flier sleeve 51 is a shouldered thimble 150 secured fixedl thereto b means of a set-screw 151 exten 'ng through the side of the sleeve and engaging in a groove 152 in the thimble. The

thimble 150 forms the support for a tubular tape-guide 153 which is held fast in the bore thereof; the upper end of the thimble being split and clamped to the guide-tube 153 by means of a binder-screw 154. The guide 153 extends u wardly to a oint within the base 5 of the raiding mac ine, see Fig. 1, and above the thimble 150 it is cut away on one side, leaving a semi-circular wall as shown in Fig. 3. This semi-circular portion of the tube 153 is formed with a slot 155 extending throughout substantially itswhole length and adapted to serve as a guide for the tape 16 which feeds therethrough as it is wrapped around the wire-qr conductor w.

The forward arm 110 of the tape-roll carrier is provided with a depending finger 156 positioned midway between its forks, see Figs. 2 and 3. The finger 156 is adapted to strike against the upper end of a lungerrod 157 which is slidably mounted in a boss or hearing 158 on the side of the hub 101 which carries the yoke-arms 103. The lower end of the plunger 157 projects through a hole in the web of the bevel gear 55, and a spring 160 coiled about the plunger bears at its upper end against a collar 161 secured fast thereon. The spring 160 tends to maintain the plunger 157 in raised position, as indicated in Fig. 2, during the normal operation of the wrapping device; but when the strip of tape breaks or its supply is exhausted the swiveled carrier will swing downwardly under the action of gravity to cause its finger 156 to depress the plunger. The depression of the plun er 157 is caused to actuate the stopping-mec anism of the braiding machine through instrumentalities as next de scribed.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 7, a lever 162 is pivoted on astud 163 projecting upwardly from a boss on the base-plate beneath the gear 55. The main arm of the lever 162 is formed with a V-shaped end providing oppositely inclined faces, one or the other of which is adapted to be enga ed by the lower end of the plunger-rod 15 in accordance with the direction of rotation of the flier 50.

The lever 162 has an extension or tailpiece 165 carrying an adjusting screw 167, the end of which bears against a lug 168 on the base-plate 45. A spring 169 connected to the tail-piece 165 is anchored at 166 to the lug 168. Through this arrangement the lever 162 may be adjusted in position to bring its V-shaped end into proper relation with respect to the plunger 157 to adapt it to be 'engaged thereby during the rotation of the head or sleeve 51, the end of the plunger wiping acrossthe angular portion of the lever 162 as the flier turns in either direction to swing the lever outwardly in the manner and for the purpose as hereinafter more fully explained.

The lever 162 has a rearwardly extending 7 leg 3, see Fig. 1. At the upper end of the,

rock-shaft 175 is an arm or lever 180 con.- nected by a link 181 to another lever 182, see Fig. 6. The lever 182 is pivoted on the lockpin 36, previously referred to as carried by the shaft-bearing 14, and has a tail-piece 184 adapted to make contact with the detentlatch 35 to swing the latter to release the starting-lever 32. The rock-shaft 175 is rocked from its arm 174 which is moved from the rod or link 172 connected to the arm 164 of the lever 162.

It has been noted that the flier may be rotated in either direction to provide for a rightor left-hand wrap of the tape-on the wire as desired. The means for shifting from a rightto a left-hand drive comprises instrumentalities as next described. Referring to Fig. 3, the shaft 89 is slidable in its bearings 90 and 91 to place either one of the gears 87 or 88 in mesh with the gear 86 on the flier drive-shaft 73. For this urpose a shiftermember 200 is provided fiaving a hub 201 held on the shaft 89 between .collars 203 fixedly secured thereto. The shifter-member 200 has a slot 204 which is engaged b a crank-pin 205 on a rotatable hub 206. The hub 206 is fast on the end of a rock-shaft 207 mounted in a bearing 208 on the bracket 85 and supported at its opposite end in a bearing bracket 209. On this latter end of the rock-shaft 207 is a-hand-lever' 210 secured thereto by means of a set-screw 211. The hub of the lever 210 is provided with an offset bore 212 in which is mounted a slidable detent-plunger 213 formed with a beveled end. A spring 214 presses against the plunger 213 to cause its beveled end to snap into engagement with one or the other of two beveled seats 215 in the face of the bearing 209. By turning the lever 210 the hub 206 may be rotated to cause its crank-pin 205 to act through the shifter-member 200 to slide the shaft 89. As the shaft 89 is slid in this manner to mesh one or the other of the gears 87, 88 with the driven gear 86 the detent-plunger 213 will engage the appropriate seat or depression 215 to retain the parts in adjusted position.

The method of operation of-the complete machine is as next explained. The wire w or other conductor is led through the machine from belowandthe strands y from the bobbins b and "0 of'the braiding machine are drawn together and attachedto the wire above the braiding mechanism. The roll of tape T is placed on the mandrel 120 of its carrier and its end passed around one of the guide-rolls 115, inserted through the slot 155 in the guide-tube 153 and then attached to the surface of the wire or conductor w. The tape t is usually of the electric or friction type provided with a sticky coating which adaptsit to adhere to the surface of the wire on which it is wrapped. After the tape-roll T has been laced on its carrier the friction-device Whic controls the rotation of the mandrel or spindle 120 is adjusted to give the desired degree of drag or tension to the delivery of the tape from its roll. This-adjustment is accomplished by turning the knurled nut 127 to vary the compression of the spring 138 which acts to hold the flange 121 of the spindle 120 in frictional contact with the face of the central hub or bearing-plate 105.

After it has been determined as to whether the tape shall be laid on the wire with a rightor left-hand wrap the hand-lever 210 is manipulated to operate the crank-hub 206 to slide the, shaft 89, whereby one or the other of the gears 87 88 may be selectively placed in mesh with the gear 86 which drives the shaft 7 3. I i

The machine is now ready to operate and by shifting the starting-lever 32, shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the clutch 20 is thrown into engagement with the belt-pulley 19 to rotatively connect it with the shaft 15. As the countershaft 15 is rotated from its source of power the braiding machine drive-shaft 13 will be driven therefrom through the medium of the sprockets l6 and 18 and chain 17. The braidingmachine is thus operated to cause the two sets of bobbins b and c to be revolved in opposite directions around its axis with the strands of yarn y passing over and under each other to intermesh in braid d.

Meanwhile, the countershaft 15 drives the shaft 89 through its connection therewith by the chain 93 running over the sprockets 92 and 94. The shaft 89, connected through one of its gears87, 88 with the gear 86, drives the shaft 73, and power is transmitted therefrom through the train of gears 72, 71 and 70 to drive the shaft 57. The shaft 57 drives through the gears 56 and to rotate the flier 50 with the speed of the latter regulated as required through the medium of the change-gear train shown in Fig. 4. The rotation of the flier 50 causes the tape-roll carrier to be revolved about the wire w which, as before noted, is led up through the center of the machine and passing through the hollow column 49 and guide-tube 153. As the tape-roll carrier is revolved about the wire in this manner the tape t will be drawn off from the roll T and wrapped around the wire as indicated in Fig. 1. Various widths of tape may be used with the present apparatus and the tape-roll carrier, as before noted, automaticall adjusts itself for the proper angle of lay o the tape on the wire in accordance with the width of the tape and the size of the wire. That is to say, with a relatively wide tape as shown in the present drawings the tape-roll carrier will assume a position at less inclination to the wire than where a'narrower tape is used and a longer pitch or lead is required. The width of the tape varies with the size of the wire being wrapped, a relatively narrow tape being used for fine and a tape of maximum width for wire of large diameter. In any case, however, the tape-roll carrier will always assume its proper position to feed the Q tape to the wire at the proper angle to cause it to be laid with a slight overlap. It will be noted that the parts of the swiveled taperol l carrier are made relatively light so that the action of gravity has little effect to throw the tape-roll out of proper position of alinement with the feed of the tape. There may be a slight tendency for the carrier to sag somewhat, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, but this is compensated for by the action of the roller 115. That is to say, the inclined or tapered periphery of the roller 115 acts to sustain the tape-roll in alinement with the tape as it feeds on to the wire.

As the tape is wrapped around the wire the slot 155 in the guide-tube 153 a plies a slight drag which causes the tape to e laid snugly in p ace with each wrap slightly overlapping the previous turn. The tape t is tensioned to maintain it taut by the resistance applied to the turning of its mandrel 120 in the manner as previously explained. It is obvious that the tape would normally deliver from a full-size roll with less resistance than when the roll is of smaller diameter. To compensate for this disparity in the normal tension on the tape the friction means for the taperoll carrierjspindle 120 is controlled through the automatically-operated adjusting-mech-- anism in the manner as next explained. When the tape is unwinding from a full roll T, as indicated in Fig. 3, the roller 149 bearing on its periphery will hold the arm 145 in such position that the connected arm 140 is turned to efiect a maximum pressure of the tension spring 138 shown in Fig. 5. That is to say, the arm 140 will be turned to cause the cam-hub 136 to ride up on the hub 132 to slide the sleeve 137 into the hollow stem 122. Now, as the tape is unwound from the roll T and the latter is reduced in diameter the roller 149 will move inwardly toward the axis of the tape-roll carrier. Under this action the arm 140 connected to the arm 145 by the linkr144 will be caused to swing in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. This turning movement of the arm 140 causes the cam-hub 136 to turn down the incline of the cam-face on the hub 132 to withdraw the sleeve -137from winds from the roll and, consequentl the compression on the spring 138 is gra ually reduced so as to relieve the friction between the flange 121 and the hub or plate 105. Therefore, as the tape-roll is reduced in diameter and the resistance to the unwinding of the tape therefrom becomes greater, the appliedresistance to the turning of the rollcarrier mandrel 120 is reduced whereby the tension on the tape is maintained substantially constant or uniform from start to finish of its delivery from the roll.

The tape t is wrapped around the wire w in a continuous spiral and as the wire feeds up through the braiding-mechanism an outer layer of braided strands of cotton or other suitable material is laid on-over the wire as indicated at d in Fi 1, the product being a conductor wrappe with a layer of tape and having a superimposed braided covering of strand material which may be later treated in any well-known manner to render it wear-resisting and water-proof.

' Should any of the yarns from the bobbins b and 0 break or the su ply thereof be exhausted, the operation 0 the braiding mechanism is arrested through the action of suitable indicator devices which initiate the operation of the means for releasing the starting-lever 32 to declutch the driving-pulley 19. The stopping of the whole machine is also effected automatically when the tape 15 breaks or its supply is exhausted. In such conditions the tape-roll carrier will tilt on its pivots under the action of gravit thereby causing the finger 156 on t e for ed arm 110 to str1ke against the plunger 157. The plunger 157 will thereb be depressed to cause it to ride against't e angular face on the end of the lever 162 to throw the latter outwardly. The lever 162 is thus caused to act through its arm 164 and the link 172 to turn the arm 174 to partially rotate the rock-shaft 175. The turning of the rockshaft 175 swings the arm 180, see Fig. 6, which, through the link 181 turns the lever 182 to cause its toe 184 to disengage the detent-latch 34 from the lockin 36. This release of the latch 34 frees t e starting-lever 32 which is acted upon by its spring 38 to push the rod 31 to rock the shipper-lever 25. The lever 25 acts through the rockable shipper-fork 28 to withdraw the clutch 20 from the belt-pulley 19 so that the latter is then free to turn on the shaft 15 as the latter comes to rest. The countershaft 15 furnishes the drive for the whole machine and as its rotation is arrested both the braiding mechanism and the wrapping device come to a stop, suitable braking means on the braiding machine being usually employed to check the movement of the parts under the effect of momentum. When it is desired to start the machine again it is only necessary to move the starting-lever 32 to lock its detent-latch 34.

with the lockin 36 to cause the clutch 20 to engage the belt-pulley 19.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a particularly eflicient machine for the purpose specified and one which is highly automatic in the operation of wrapping the tape or other band material on the wire. The wrapping or tape-laying device requires no careful setting, being self-adjusting in accordance with the requirements for different sizes of wire and different widths of tape. Moreover, the wrapping device is of itself entirely automatic in its control of the stoppingmechanism to arrest the operation of taping and braiding the covering on the Wire when the supply of tape fails.

The driving-means for the Wrapping device is capable of adjustment for varying the speed of rotation of the flier in accordance with requirements and also with res ect to controlling the direction of wrap of the tape or other material on the wire.

The whole machine is simple in construction, proof against derangement and getting out 0 order and designed for durability over long periods of use.

While the wrapping or taping device is herein described and illustrated as combined with a braiding mechanism it is noted that the wrapping mechanism is adapted for use by itself or in connection with other types of insulating machines. The improved device is herein shown and described in a preferred form of construction, but it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts of its mechanism without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a wrapping device for applying tape or other strip material to a wire or other conductor, the combination of a hollow flier-head through which the wire passes, means for rotating the flier-head, a tape-roll carrier swiveled on the flier-head and free to move relatively thereto .to adapt it to automatically adjust itself to diflere'nt positions of inclination with respect to the axis of the flier, to regulate the angle of wrap of the tape in proportion to its width, means for rotatively mounting the roll of tape on the carrier, and means for guiding the tape from the roll to feed it to the wire to cause it to be wrapped therearound.

2. In a wrapping device for applying tape or Jther strip material to a wire or other conductor, the combination of a hollow bearing,

a flier-head rotatable on said bearing, means to rotate said head, forked arms carried on said head, a tape-roll carrier pivoted between the arms to adapt it to swing freely thereon to automatically adjust itself to difierent positions of inclination with respect to the rier carried on the flier to be revolved about its axis of rotation, means for rotatably supporting the roll of tape on the carrier, means for resisting the rotation of the tape-roll to apply tension. to the tape unwinding therefrom, and means controlled from the periphery of the tape roll for progressively reducing the degree of resistance in proportion to the change in diameter of the roll during the unwinding of the tape therefrom.

4. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatable flier, a tape-roll carrier carried on said flier to be revolved about its axis of rotation, means for rotatably supporting the? roll of tape on the carrier, means for resisting the rotation of the rollsupporting means to apply tension to the tape delivering from the roll, and means controlled from the periphery of the ta e roll for automatically and progressively re ucing the amount of resistance applied to the rotation of the roll-supporting means as the roll decreases in diameter during the unwinding of the tape therefrom.

5. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatableflier, a tape-roll carrier carried by the flier to be revolved about its axis of rotation, a mandrel rotatable on the carrier for supporting the roll of tape, friction means for resisting the rotation of the mandrel, resilientmeans for applying pressure to the friction means, and means controlled from the periphery of the taperoll to relieve the pressure of the resilient means on the friction means as the roll diminishes in diameter.

6. In a device of the type specified, the c0mbination of a rotatable flier, a tape-roll carrier carried by the flier to be revolved about its axis of rotation, a rotatable mandrel for supporting the tape-roll on the carrier, friction means for resisting the rotation of the mandrel, pressure means for operating the friction means, and means controlled from the periphery of the tape-roll as the latter is reduced in diameter to adjust the pressure means to progressively diminish the resistance to rotation of the mandrel.

7 In a device of the type specified, the com bination of a flier, a tape-roll carrier carried on the flier to be revolved about its axis of rotation, a bearing on the carrier, a mandrel rotatable on the bearing for supporting the rollof tape, a spring for applying pressure to resist rotation of the mandrel on the carrier, means for maintaining the spring under compression, a cam for moving said last-named means to relieve the compression of the spring, and means controlled by the change in diameter of the tape-roll to operate the cam to progressively reduce the resistance to rotation of the mandrel as the roll is reduced in diameter.

8. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatable flier, a tape-roll carrier carried by the flier to be revolved about its axis of rotation, a mandrel for rotatably supporting the tape-roll on the carrier, a spindle extending through said mandrel, a spring on the spindle for holding the mandrel in frictional contact with the carrier, a sleeve slidable on the spindle to compress the spring, a helical cam engaging the sleeve, an arm for turning the sleeve to cause the cam to slide the latter, a spring for turning the arm, and means bearing against the periphery of the tape-roll to control the turning movement of the arm and sleeve under the action of the spring in accordance with the change in diameter of the roll.

9. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a flier, a tape-roll carrier carried on the flier to be revolved about its axis of rotation, a mandrel rotatable on the carrier for supporting the tape-roll, a spindle extending coaxially of the mandrel, a cam fixed on the spindle, a sleeve slidable on the spindle and having a cam face engaging the fixed cam, a spring on the spindle acting against the sleeve to hold the mandrel in frictional contact with the carrier, an arm for rotating the sleeve, a spring for turning the arm, a second arm connected to the first arm, and means on said second arm adapted to bear against the periphery of the tape-roll to control the movement of the first arm under the action of its spring.

10. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a tape-roll carrier having a central bearing with a tubular stem, a mandrel rotatable on the stem and provided with a flange in contact with the bearing on the carrier, a spindle extending coaxially of the stem and mandrel and provided with a screwthreaded end, a hand-nut on the threaded end of the spindle abutting the end of the mandrel, a collar having a helical camface fixed to the opposite end of the spindle, a sleeve slidable within the stem of the carrier and provided with a helical cam-face engaging the cam-face on the fixed collar, a spring surrounding the spindle between the end of the stem and the sleeve, an arm for turning the sleeve, a spring for moving the arm, a second arm connected to the first arm, and means on the second arm adapted to bear against the periphery of the tape-roll to control the swinging movement of the first arm under the action of its spring.

11. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatable flier, a tape-roll carrier swiveled on the carrier on an axis at right-angles to the axis of the flier, means for rotatably supporting a roll of tape on the carrier, and means for guiding the tape as it unwinds from the roll to cause it to be wrapped spirally on the wire or other conductor feeding through the flier, said taperoll carrier being adapted to rock on its axis to automatically adjust the direction of feed or other conductor feeding through the flier in accordance with the angle of wrap as determined by the width of the tape being used, a pair of tape-guiding rollers carried on the carrier at opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the flier to adapt them to guide the tape unwinding from the roll in whichever direction the latter turns on the carrier, and means to rotate the flier in one direction or the other to effect a right-or left-hand wrap of the tape on the wire or conductor.

13. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatable flier, a tubuluar guide-member extending coaxially of the flier and provided with a slot for guiding a strip of tape or the like to a wire or conductor feeding through the flier, a tape-roll carrier swiveled to the flier to adapt it to antomatically adjust itself at different angles of inclination with respect to the wire feeding through the flier in accordance with the angle of wrap as determined by the width of the tape being used, and a guide-roller for guiding the tape unwinding from the roll on the carrier to direct it through the slot in the guiding tube to cause it to be wrapped on the wire or other conductor.

14. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a flier, a tape-roll carrier swiveled to the flier to adapt it to rock on an axis at right-angles to the axis of rotation thereof, means for rotatably supporting the roll of tape on the flier, means for guiding the tape unwinding from the roll to adapt it to be wrapped around a wire'or other conductor feeding through the flier, means for rotating the flier, stopping-means for arresting the rotation 'of the flier, and means actuated by the tilting of the tape-roll carrier under the action of gravity upon breakage or exhaustion of the tape to efl'ect the operatihn of the-stopping-means.

15. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatable flier, means for rotating the flier, a tape-roll carrier swiveled to the flier to adapt it to rock with respect thereto, means for rotatably supporting the 

